Bryan Murderer Faces New Punishment Phase with Death Option

He had been on Death Row for a 2007 Bryan murder. Now, prosecutors have announced they'll try to send Christian Olsen back.

Olsen was convicted in 2009 for the murder of Etta Jean Westbrook, who lived across the street from him. A jury decided on the death penalty, but an appeals court ruled an expert defense witness in the punishment phase should have been allowed to testify, but wasn't. Judge Steve Smith ruled in favor of prosecutors, who objected to the witness.

As a result of the appeals court decision, Olsen sits in the Brazos County jail awaiting the decision of the Brazos County District Attorney's Office. The state has now said they will seek death again in a new punishment phase that has yet to be scheduled.

Olsen's conviction still stands.

If prosecutors hadn't sought death again, Olsen would have automatically been sentenced to life in prison without parole. Death or life in prison without parole are the only two options for the jury that will be selected.

The district attorney's office had held off on a decision regarding a new punishment phase until the new DA was elected. Jarvis Parsons won the office. Bill Turner chose not to seek re-election.

Just days after being arrested for the Westbrook murder, Olsen was accused in the killing of his girlfriend's mother, Geraldine Lloyd, who was found buried in her backyard an estimated six months after she had been murdered. After getting a death sentence for the Westbrook murder, prosecutors had chosen not to go to trial for the Lloyd death. Lloyd's daughter pleaded guilty for plotting her mother's death and was sentenced to 30 years in prison.

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Steve Fullhart anchors First News at Four and News 3 at Five weekdays, and serves as KBTX's managing editor. He joined the Brazos Valley’s news leader in May 2004 and has anchored, reported for and produced every newscast at KBTX over his time at the station.